At today's Planning, Environment and Development Committee members acknowledged the decision of the Scottish Government on the Beauly to Denny power line but expressed concern that the Council's aspirations for the undergrounding and re-routing of the line in certain locations had not been taken up by the Government.   Officers have been asked to approach the Scottish Government and Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission Limited for clarification on a number of inconsistencies in the requirements of the consent and for discussions on the constitution and operation of the various liaison groups.   ... [more]

Highland Councillors are being asked to review the Council's waste collection strategy to ensure a reduction in the amount of waste going to landfill and to increase the amount of waste recycled.   At the same time, the review is aimed at improving the effectiveness of the service and providing the best value for money.   ... [more]

Efforts continue to tackle potential flood threats.   The number of flood watches across Scotland has dropped from 19 to 3, as freezing temperatures eased over the weekend.   ... [more]

A funding pot of £40,000 is now available to environmental enthusiasts in Caithness over the next three years.   The Caithness Partnership has secured the funds from Scottish Natural Heritage and the Highland Leader Programme to operate a Caithness Environment Fund.   ... [more]

The Highland Council and HIE meet with Aberdeen and Northern Marts to discuss planned closures in Dornoch.   Following the announcement by Aberdeen and Northern Marts of the planned closure in April of the Scotch Premier Meat plant in Dornoch with the loss of 29 jobs, representatives from The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise met with owner Aberdeen and Northern Marts in Inverurie on Tuesday 19 January.   ... [more]

Local businesses have given their backing to Baillie Wind Farm following planning permission being granted by the Scottish Government to build the 52.5MW, 21 turbine wind farm at Bardnaheigh Farm, Westfield by Thurso.  The ??80 million project will supply almost 25,000 homes with renewable energy.   ... [more]

Get to know how to use your digital camera..   ... [more]

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 20th) sold 516 store cattle and 86 OTM cattle.  Bullocks (314) averaged 186.2p and sold to 228.6p per kg and £1,100 gross.   ... [more]

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 19th) sold 101 prime cattle.  Prime bullocks (66) averaged 168.1p (-2.4p) and sold to 186p per kg and £1,248.00 gross.   ... [more]

John Considine, former Rector of Inverness Royal Academy has been appointed as Acting Head of Education Services with The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service.   Mr Considine, who starts his new employment today (18 January), will be based at the Council's headquarters on Glenurquhart Road, Inverness.   ... [more]

The Highland Council's Education Culture and Sport Committee has agreed to review its school estate, which includes 183 primary schools; 29 secondary schools and 3 special schools.   The review aims to improve education provision for Highland pupils by:- • maximising opportunities for moving pupils from poor to better quality school buildings; • making most efficient use of available funding; and • addressing issues relating to demographic change.   ... [more]

At a meeting of The Highland Council's Transport, Environmental and Community (TEC) Services on Thursday 21 January Highland Councillors will be asked to approve revised management rules for burial grounds that will include arrangements for burial lairs to be sold in perpetuity.   The Council approved the current management rules for burial grounds in 1999.   ... [more]

Highland Councillors are being asked to review the Council's waste collection strategy to ensure a reduction in the amount of waste going to landfill and to increase the amount of waste recycled.   At the same time, the review is aimed at improving the effectiveness of the service and providing the best value for money.   ... [more]

The Highland Council is preparing to combat the threat of flooding, which may result from the thaw of heavy snow and ice blocking some drains.   Transport Environmental and Community Services (TECs) staff will be targeting known flooding areas in advance to ensure drains and culvert intakes are kept as clear as possible.   ... [more]

As a result of national shortages of road salt, The Highland Council has taken emergency measures to preserve salt stocks.   With immediate effect, low priority routes - Priority 3 and 4 routes which include most urban roads, school bus routes and rural roads and residential areas - will be treated with grit only.   ... [more]

The Highland Council is to participate in 'Scotland's Islands 2011' - a themed year that will showcase and develop islands life, locally, nationally and beyond through developing tourism, and provide opportunities in the arts, sport and cultural experiences.   Members of the Council's Education.   ... [more]

Members of The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee have agreed that a new Primary school will be built for the Milton of Leys area of Inverness.   Funding for the construction of the school will be provided from within the Council's Education, Culture and Sport Service capital programme.   ... [more]

A proposal to establish Gaelic Medium education provision at Glen Urquhart Primary School in Drumnadrochit took a step forward this week.   At The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee members were informed about the outcome of a recent statutory consultation on the proposal to establish Gaelic Medium provision at the school.   ... [more]

Consultation on Higher Activity Waste A consultation published today seeks to find responsible solutions to managing Scotland's legacy of radioactive waste.   Scotland's Higher Activity Radioactive Waste Policy aims to ensure that the treatment, storage and disposal of such waste is done in a way that offers maximum protection to people and the environment.   ... [more]

Blueprint to safeguard Scotland's stock of social housing New council house and housing association tenants will no longer have the Right to Buy (RTB) their homes, it was confirmed in proposals unveiled to MSPs today.   RTB for new build social housing in Scotland will also be scrapped.   ... [more]